The World's Most Powerful People

#41 Joaquin Guzman

Mexico's most wanted man (U.S.

Mexico's most wanted man (U.S. government offers $5 million reward for his capture) heads the Sinaloa drug cartel. Believed to have directed anywhere from $6 billion to $19 billion in cocaine shipments to the U.S. over the last eight years. His specialty: importing cocaine from Colombia, smuggling it into U.S. through elaborate tunnels. Diminutive nickname "El Chapo," or Shorty, belies fearsome behavior: as power behind struggle with government forces to control transport corridors to U.S., responsible for thousands of deaths. In 1993, arrested in Mexico on homicide and drug charges; escaped prison in 2001, reportedly through the laundry; seized back control of organization.